Gloriavale’s top leader promises ‘no more abuse’ at the West Coast cult

By Joanne Naish and Katie Doyle | Stuff |

The leader of Gloriavale has vowed that there will be “no more abuse” at the secretive West Coast Christian community but denied that its doctrines had allowed it to flourish in the past.

Gloriavale’s overseeing shepherd, Howard Temple, has been answering questions at the Royal Commission of Inquiry into abuse in faith-based care about how the leaders dealt with sexual abuse of children.

On Thursday, Temple said a policy at the community, as written in its document What We Believe in 1989, prevented members from reporting crimes to anyone outside the community. The policy was changed in 2017 and the document rewritten this year, he said.

The inquiry heard evidence about a child sex offender who apologised and was forgiven by the Gloriavale community for his actions – but was only exiled by the leaders after police got involved when he offended again.

Further reading: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/130160677/gloriavales-top-leader-promises-no-more-abuse-at-the-west-coast-cult